Voting is underway in Kano State for the Ungogo and Kano Municipal Council state constituency by-elections, but early observations indicate a notably low turnout of voters across several polling units.
Correspondents who visited selected polling centres on Saturday reported that officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) were present and appeared relaxed, with only a handful of voters arriving to cast their ballots.
At Tundun Wazirchi polling unit, where an estimated 600 voters are registered, only two individuals had voted as of the time of filing this report.
Similar scenes of sparse participation were observed in other locations within the affected constituencies.
Some residents attributed the low turnout to the ongoing Ramadan fasting period, noting that many eligible voters may have chosen to remain indoors.
Others cited what they described as inadequate publicity by relevant authorities, arguing that more awareness campaigns could have boosted participation.
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A different segment of voters expressed concerns about declining public confidence in the electoral process. Some claimed that perceived one-sidedness in the contest had dampened enthusiasm and reduced motivation to participate.
The by-elections were necessitated by the deaths of the sitting lawmakers, Sarki Aliyu and Aminu Sa’ad Ungogo, in December 2025.
Their sudden passing created vacancies in the Kano State House of Assembly, prompting INEC to schedule the supplementary polls in line with constitutional requirements.
While the voting process has so far been described as peaceful and orderly, political observers say turnout levels may ultimately determine the perceived legitimacy and strength of the mandates emerging from the exercise.
As the day progresses, attention remains on whether voter participation will improve and what the outcome may signal about public engagement in local politics within the state.